Background: Microalgae are an important feedstock in industries. Currently, efforts are being made in the non-phototrophic cultivation of microalgae for biomass production. Studies have shown that mixotrophy is a more efficient process for producing algal biomass in comparison to phototrophic and heterotrophic cultures. However, cultivation of microalgae in pilot-scale open ponds in the presence of organic carbon substrates has not yet been developed. The problems are heterotrophic bacterial contamination and inefficient conversion of organic carbon.
Results: Laboratory investigation was combined with outdoor cultivation to find a culture condition that favors the growth of alga, but inhibits bacteria. A window period for mixotrophic cultivation of the alga Graesiella sp. WBG-1 was identified. Using this period, a new sequential phototrophic-mixotrophic cultivation (SPMC) method that enhances algal biomass productivity and limits bacteria contamination at the same time was established for microalgae cultivation in open raceway ponds. Graesiella sp. WBG-1 maximally produced 12.5 g biomass and 4.1 g lipids m-2 day-1 in SPMC in a 1000 m2 raceway pond, which was an over 50% increase compared to phototrophic cultivation. The bacterial number in SPMC (2.97 × 105 CFU ml-1) is comparable to that of the phototrophic cultivations.
Conclusions: SPMC is an effective and feasible method to cultivate lipid-rich microalgae in open raceway ponds. Successful scale-up of SPMC in a commercial raceway pond (1000 m2 culture area) was demonstrated for the first time. This method is attractive for global producers of not only lipid-rich microalgae biomass, but also astaxanthin and β-carotene.
Keywords: Graesiella; Microalgae cultivation; Mixotrophic; Open raceway pond; SPMC.